Talk:Blood atonement

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Having studied this issue in depth, I have tried to keep this as NPOV as possible, showing arguments from both critics and Latter-day Saints, but have taken a more moderate approach from a historian’s point of view and the most recent research on the subject. Additions are welcome. Due to the controversial nature of this page, I would prefer deletions to be discussed on the talk page prior to deletion, in order to keep NPOV and consistency. (Comment taken from article; not sure who wrote it).

"The blood atonement doctrine is often confused with the unrelated so-called "blood oaths" that were part of the Latter-day Saint Endowment ceremony prior to 1990 (see below)."

I haven't been able to find any reasonably unbiased source for this statement--aside from books in the vein of "Mormonism: Shadow or Reality" and "One Nation Under Gods". I'd appreciate a citation of this, as "below" doesn't seem to shed any light on the issue. --S.B.

Can you clarify your question? I'm not sure I understand. Are you asking for references where there is confusion, (the Tanners state that one should not confuse the two in some of their works) or are you asking for references on the oaths? Or are you aksing for documentation on temple changes? Or something else? Also, so we can properly address, what is your definition of a "reasonably unbiased source?" I'd hardly call Mormonism: Shadow or Reality" and "One Nation Under Gods" 'unbiased', as you seem to...? Please clarify? -Visorstuff 16:57, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] POV paragraph

I removed

Another clearer example of the practice blood atonement is the 1866 murder of the former-slave, Thomas Coleman (or Colburn), who was in good standing as a member of the LDS Church. However, as Mormon historian D. Michael Quinn has documented, Coleman was apparently secretly courting a white Mormon woman, contrary to both territorial law and Mormon doctrine at the time. At one of their clandestine meetings behind the old Arsenal (on what is now Capitol Hill in Salt Lake) on December 11, Coleman was discovered by "friends" of the woman. The group of vigilantes brained Coleman with a large rock, and then took his own bowie knife and slit his throat so deeply from ear to ear he was nearly decapitated. He was also castrated, and further mimicing the blood covenants of the temple ritual, his right breast was sliced open. A pre-penciled placard was then pinned to his corpse stating, "NOTICE TO ALL NIGGERS - TAKE WARNING - LEAVE WHITE WOMEN ALONE." The ritualistic secnario of the murder seems to be in direct obedience to a public statement made by Brigham Young on March 3, 1863: "Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, p. 110.) Even though it was the middle of winter, a grave was dug and Coleman's body disposed of in less than three hours after its discovery. Tellingly, less than twelve hours after that, Judge Elias Smith, first cousin of Joseph Smith, appointed George Stringham (a Mormon ruffian and vigilante with ties to Porter Rockwell, Jason Luce, and William Hickman) as the foreman of the Coroner's Jury; they briefly met and summarily dismissed the case as committed by person or persons unknown to the jury, abruptly ending all official enquiry into the bizarre murder. (See Quinn, Extensions of Power, p. 256 and Daily Union Vedette, 15 December 1866.)

I tried to edit it to meet neutrality standards but couldn't do it and I don't have access to Quinn's book so I am bringing it here --Trödel 06:05, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Apologetic statement about millstone

"Some modern Mormon apologetics also compare Young’s statement to the statement of Jesus Christ in the New Testament that it would be better for those who offend children to have a millstone hung around their neck and be thrown into the depths of the sea than to be born." I cannot find any reference at FAIR or on the web to support this statement, so I'm putting it here for now until something can be located. Maybe it's in print somewhere? Bochica 03:58, 9 March 2007 (UTC)